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AAP
AAP
Lloyd Jones

Government accused of slow response to disease outbreak

More than 230 diphtheria cases have been recorded across Australia in the year to date. (Sam Mooy/AAP PHOTOS)

Government responses to a fast-spreading outbreak of the potentially deadly virus diphtheria were initially too slow, a peak Aboriginal health body says.

The criticism came as federal Health Minister Mark Butler admitted "something has gone wrong" to allow such an outbreak when most developed countries had relegated the disease to the "dustbin of history".

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